5/17 at NYM

*Ryan Ludwick is 2-for-6 with 1 HR lifetime vs. Mets starter R.A. Dickey. Too bad for the Reds that Scott Rolen isn’t available since he is 5-for-9 with 1 HR and 4 RBIs.

*Dusty Baker was asked on how his hitters should handle a rare knuckleballer like Dickey…

“Look for a fastball,” Baker said. “A lot of guys don’t do it because they don’t like moving around now [in the batter’s box]. You don’t see them move up on sinkers. You don’t see them move closer to the plate on breaking balls. They stay on the same spot. I try to get through to these guys that you have to move around to make it conducive to get a guy’s pitch he’s going to throw the most.

“I was taught with knuckleballs that you have to crowd the plate. The last thing they want to do is hit you because it doesn’t hurt and they don’t like base runners. If you stand off that plate, you give them a big ol’ window to correct that knuckleball. If you’re on the plate, you don’t give them much of a window.”

Im ok with Ludwick getting the start today. It’s a knuckleball, just swing hard and maybe he’ll hit a couple and get his confidence back. Heisey can come off the bench to pinch hit later, it’s not the end of the world. The only lineup thing I can’t stand lately is why isn’t Phillips in the leadoff spot? That’s what he was told all offseason he would be doing. He gets hurt, I get it, but he’s ok now. Cozart is struggling, go back to the original plan.
Curt

Clearly you’ve never injured a major muscle chain. Normal folks take at least 3-4 weeks to get over it and that is with no physical activity that would stimulate that area. He got like 4-5 days. He’s nowhere near 100% and might not be for the rest of the year. Basically hitting leadoff means to will have to use your legs much more than his current offensive role. I agree, I would much rather have him at leadoff and Cozart in the 2 hole.

I agree with Curt I am ok with this line-up. Heisey is a fastball hitter, I think he would be falling all over himself against Dickey. Additionally, Ludwig is likely slated to DH against the Yankees this weekend, so it would make sense to get him some extra at bats going into the weekend. Hopefully they can get after Dickey early.

Honestly Philips is your best option at clean up since apparently Bruce is not allowed. Who else are you going to put there. The team struggled mightily with Philips at lead off and has produced well since the move so stick with it. I think Cozart will be fine there for a bit. He has gotten a lot of timely hits even though his average is suffering.

I do not understand the lineup. Heisey is just starting to swing a better bat and you sit him to cool him off? I hope i am wrong and Ludwick has a great game but it does not make sense. Dusty’s reason for not putting Bruce in cleanup also does not make sense. The Big Red Machine batted Morgan and Griffey back to back and they were both lefties. Guess that was a mistake too. Hopefully the players are able to overcome and win this one.

Todd, I’ve pulled muscles before, everyone reacts differently to different injuries, so we don’t know how he feels. All Im going by is that Phillips said himself that he is 100%. Good enough for me, I’m not going to call him a liar.
Curt

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